As much as I love TVS for their bikes and all the stuff they're doing, their service centres have been a mess for far too long.

BHPian ManualMaestro recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Hello everyone!
I'm a proud owner of TVS Apache 160 4V HP since 2021. This is my first bike and I have put relatively low kms on it (around 9k). Still, the bike has been an absolute joy to ride. The exhaust is bassy, happy, high revving engine, great looks (love the side profile) and more than enough performance for a new rider. There have been no major issues, other than a simple recent suspension leak, and it has completely changed my decision to upgrade to the bigger sibling RTR310 in near future. I've laid out the events below:

1. Had been facing suspension leak issue since a month. Got time on 13-10-24 and visited Litra TVS to get bike serviced. Job card was made for the issue, waited from 9:30 AM to around 5:00 PM (6-7hrs) just to know that they forgot to do the repair job.
Promised me to do it on priority a week later on priority.

2. Visited Litra TVS again on 20-10-24 for the suspension job. Reminded and urged them about their promise. Still had to wait from 9:30AM to around 2:00 PM (5hrs), so much for their priority service. Was not satisfied with the end result, but thought must be due to new parts.
This whole ordeal was off the records.

3. Issue still persisted after a month, so raised a complaint with TVS on their mail:

Got a call from the manager requesting to visit again.

4. Visited again on my holiday 15-10-24 (Guru Nanak Jayanti holiday). First the floor manager Mr. Ganesh flat out refused any problem after test riding my bike. On urging him and after talking with manager, he accepted to check once. While I was waiting for my “priority service”, some fellow customers showed interest in my issue. While showing them, I noticed that the same suspension leg had leaked again, which went unnoticed by Mr. Ganesh on his test ride:

Told him the same and he took the bike in within minutes now.

5. While checking for oil quantity, it was found out to be 120ml in both legs. The floor manager asked around different engineers and he told that it must be 150ml.

I was not satisfied with the answer of engineer so I pulled the Owner’s manual from TVS’s official website and to my horror, there it was mentioned 240ml for each leg!

When I confronted the engineer, he said “We always put 150ml only and it fixes this issue. We follow the board over there”.
The board in question:

The board looked legit, but it had data for “Apache 160” while mine was “Apache 160 4V”. Then it clicked in my mind that the 4V redesign was introduced later in the Apache lineup, the Apache 160 2V is simply called the Apache 160. Pulling up the Owner’s manual for Apache 160 2V confirmed my hypothesis. Shocking that a customer could figure it out while the technicians working there for years couldn’t..

The worst part is, even after showing all this evidence, the fact that their information board was outdated, was not acknowledged by ANYONE in the service centre, not the engineer, the floor manager, nor the service centre manager. They just had one response, “The technicians working from years wont be wrong right?”. It really felt like talking to a wall. The engineer also had the audacity to say that “Company has printed wrong info”.

Two important takeaways from this:

1. I was charged cost of oil and labour for both suspension legs, but only one was leaking, so they took out oil from the healthy one??
2. Every Apache 160 4V owner who faced the similar issue and came to this service centre is going about with half as much oil in their front suspension? In my experience, my bike has been unstable at highway speeds, so others might also be experiencing the same? No wonder I don’t see many Apaches on the road.. The owners must have gotten fed up and sold them off.

I was really done with them at this point and asked the manager to give me in writing, what is being done to my bike. She denied, but after some argument, she agreed.

Once the work was done, I took a test ride and the issue was still there. The suspension simply compresses too much causing higher load on front tyre. I’ve experience slight wobbles when going through minor road irregularities.
When I asked for the written acknowledgement, they flat out denied, saying since the bill amount is 0, we cant give anything. I asked the manager to give in writing and she also denied. The service advisors came in the room and asked “What happened?”. I told the issue and he said, “You should have come to me na? Why didn’t you come?” and tried to push the blame on me. I was like, “If your engineers, the floor manager and even the service center manager is not listening to me, will I get a dream that YOU will make things happen?”, which was followed by a silence. Then they started saying, “Pull in the bike, we’ll put as much as he’s saying” and this time I denied since I didn’t had confidence in them, and I was not willing to waste anymore than the 5 hours already spent. After a bit more argument, I left.

6. After reaching home, I sent a new mail to TVS customer care, explaining the whole ordeal:

This time, I specifically mentioned 3 points I wanted action on:
1. Confirmation from an official TVS engineer on the correct oil amount for the front suspension of the TVS Apache 160 4V, as per the manual (240ml or 150ml).
2. A referral to a trusted and reliable TVS service centre to resolve my bike's issue urgently. I have already spent three days dealing with this unprofessionalism at Litra TVS.
3. A thorough investigation and proper training for the engineers at Litra TVS, as the entire management, including the Floor Manager and Service Centre Manager, appear utterly incompetent.

Now I'm awaiting their reply. If this simple issue is not resolved, I'm seriously considering going through Consumer Forum. As much as I love TVS for their bikes and all the stuff they're doing, their service centres have been a mess for far too long. I was seriously considering upgrading to the RTR310, but after my exerience with their service centre on this simple issue, I cannot imagine what will happen if something went wrong with a much more expensive, tech loaded bike.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The Apache RTR 160 4V competes with the Pulsar N160.

The TVS Apache RTR 160 4V is now available with an upside-down front fork. The updated bike is priced at Rs 1.40 lakh (ex-showroom).

The Apache RTR 160 4V comes equipped with a 37 mm USD fork that has a gold finish. Besides the updated suspension, no other mechanical changes have been made to the bike.

The Apache RTR 160 4V is powered by the same 160cc, single-cylinder engine as before. It produces 17.55 BHP and 14.73 Nm and is mated to a 5-speed gearbox. The rear monoshock remains unchanged, along with the braking setup, which includes discs at both ends, supported by dual-channel ABS.

In terms of features, the Apache RTR 160 4V comes with a digital instrument console with TVS SmartXonnect, voice assist, and glide-through tech (GTT). The bike has three riding modes: Sport, Urban, and Rain.

The TVS Apache RTR 160 4V competes with models like the Hero Xtreme 160R and Honda CB Hornet.

TVS has announced the launch of the 2024 Apache RTR 160 4V at India Bike Week. It is available at an introductory price of Rs 1.35 lakh (ex-showroom).

The Apache RTR 160 4V receives several updates for the 2024 model year. The bike now gets TVS' SmartConnect as standard and three riding modes. It is equipped with a larger 240 mm rear disc brake and gets dual-channel ABS.

Powering the Apache RTR 160 4V is a 160cc, single-cylinder engine that produces 16.2 BHP @ 8,000 rpm and 14.8 Nm @ 6,500 rpm. It is paired with a 5-speed gearbox.

The TVS Apache RTR 160 4V competes with models like the Hero Xtreme 160R and Honda CB Hornet. Bookings are now open.

The special edition Apache RTR 160 4V gets a lightweight 'Bullpup' exhaust and adjustable levers.

TVS has launched a special edition Apache RTR 160 4V priced at Rs 1.30 lakh (ex-showroom).

The Apache RTR 160 4V special edition is available in a new Pearl White colour with red accents on the fuel tank and seat. It also gets a red-painted rear alloy wheel.

Besides the cosmetic changes, the special edition gets adjustable levers and a ‘Bullpup exhaust’ that is said to be 1 kg lighter than the standard exhaust. TVS claims that it enhances the exhaust note and improves the power-to-weight ratio.

Powering the Apache RTR 160 4V is the same 159.7cc, single-cylinder engine. It makes 17.30 BHP @ 9,250 rpm and 14.73 Nm @ 7,250 rpm and is mated to a 5-speed gearbox.

TVS is said to have redesigned the intake, which should affect performance.

A TVS Apache RTR 160 test mule, believed to be the 2023 model has been spotted for the first time.

The test bike looks identical to the current Apache RTR 160 on sale. It has the same body panels as the current bike, including the tank extensions and chin fairing.

Reports suggest that while the bike is powered by a 159cc, single-cylinder engine, TVS is said to have redesigned the intake, which should affect performance. The engine, in its current configuration, develops 17.3 BHP and 14.73 Nm and is paired with a 5-speed gearbox.

The test bike is equipped with a telescopic fork suspension at the front and has a mono-shock at the rear, which is quite standard. However, the bike appears to have a prototype exhaust.

Source: Zigwheels

The Apache RTR 165 RP is expected to be based on the RTR 160 4V.

TVS has released a teaser video of an upcoming motorcycle. It is likely to be the Apache RTR 165 RP, where 'RP' stands for 'Race Performance'.

The Apache RTR 165 RP is expected to be based on the RTR 160 4V. It could be powered by an upgraded engine, in addition to other performance upgrades. The 159.7cc block could be rebored to bump the output. The bike could get riding modes and might borrow the adjustable suspension from the RTR 200 4V.

TVS had filed a trademark application for the 'TVS Apache RTR 165 RP' name in September this year. Back then, the company had also trademarked the Race Performance sub-brand.

TVS has also introduced a Special Edition model that gets riding modes and several other new features.

TVS Motor Company has updated the 2021 Apache RTR 160 4V. The latest model gets riding modes and a few other new features and is available in 4 variants with prices starting at Rs. 1,15,265 (ex-showroom).

The updated 2021 TVS Apache RTR 160 4V comes with a new headlamp assembly and LED DRL. It also gets a gear shift indicator, a radial rear tyre and 3 riding modes - Urban, Sport and Rain. The range-topping variant of the motorcycle features TVS SmartXonnect Bluetooth technology. Customers have 3 colour options to pick from - Racing Red, Metallic Blue and Knight Black.

TVS Motor Company has also introduced a Special Edition of the 2021 Apache RTR 160 4V. Along with the aforementioned features, it is also fitted with an adjustable clutch and front brake lever. TVS SmartXonnect comes as standard. This variant is available with an exclusive Matte Black colour option with red alloy wheels and a new seat pattern.

2021 TVS Apache RTR 160 4V ex-showroom price list:

• Standard - Drum (with Ride Mode) - Rs. 1,15,265
• Standard - Disc (with Ride Mode) - Rs. 1,17,350
• Standard - Top-End (with Ride Mode) - Rs. 1,20,050
• Special Edition - Rs. 1,21,372

TVS has also trademarked the term 'TVS RP Race Performance'.

TVS has filed a trademark application for the 'TVS Apache RTR 165 RP' name. This has led to speculations that the bike maker could be working on a sportier version of the Apache RTR 160 4V.

Reports suggest that the Apache RTR 165 RP could use the same 159.7cc, single-cylinder engine as the RTR 160 4V. The engine could be rebored to increase its displacement. In its current form, it produces 17 BHP and 15 Nm.

TVS has also trademarked the term 'TVS RP Race Performance'. It is said that the RTR 165 RP could be sold under the bike maker's 'Race Performance' sub-brand.

Source: Zigwheels

The 2021 Apache RTR 160 4V is 2 kg lighter than the previous model.

TVS has launched the 2021 Apache RTR 160 4V. The bike is available in two variants and is priced at Rs. 1,07,270 (drum brake) and Rs. 1,10,320 (disc brake) (ex-showroom).

The Apache RTR 160 4V comes with a new dual tone seat with carbon fibre pattern and LED headlamp with claw-style position lamps.

The Apache RTR 160 4V is powered by a 159.7cc, single-cylinder, 4-valve, oil-cooled engine that produces 17.38 BHP @ 9,250 rpm and 14.73 Nm @ 7,250 rpm. The engine is mated to a 5-speed gearbox.

The overall weight of the bike has gone down by 2 kg. The disc variant weighs 147 kg, while the drum variant tips the scales at 145 kg.

The Apache RTR 160 4V is available in three colour options - Racing Red, Knight Black and Metallic Blue.

TVS has launched its 2020 Apache range of bikes, which include the BS6 compliant RTR 200 4V and RTR 160 4V. The former is priced at Rs. 1,24,000, while the latter costs Rs. 99,950 and Rs. 1,03,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the drum and disc brake variant respectively.

The new Apache RTR series of bikes come with a new LED headlamp, fuel-injection and a new low-speed riding mode called 'Glide Through Traffic'.

The Apache RTR 200 4V is powered by a 197.75cc, single-cylinder, oil-cooled engine that produces 20.2 BHP @ 8,500 rpm and 16.8 Nm @ 7,500 rpm. The engine is mated to a 5-speed gearbox via slipper clutch. The bike also gets dual-channel ABS and Rear Wheel Lift-off Protection (RLP).

The Apache RTR 160 4V is powered by a 159.7cc, single-cylinder, oil-cooled engine that produces 15.8 BHP @ 8,250 rpm and 14.12 Nm @ 7,250 rpm. The engine is paired with a 5-speed transmission.